Sports

Once ignored, Rockies are baseball's new darlings

Led by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, the Rockies are being touted as a favorite to win the National League West. (Getty Images North America | Jed Jacobsohn)

Generally, I don't get too excited when national media types start paying attention to the Rockies.

I know from experience that many national reporters know precious little when it comes to the lone team from the mountain time zone. I recall countless times when some East Coast scribe or national TV type showed up in the Rockies clubhouse and asked the most embarrassing, obvious questions. It was clear they hadn't done their homework.

When that comet named "Rocktober" streaked across baseball's sky in 2007, media members from around the country were all atwitter about this secret, newfangled thing called the humidor. The Rockies PR staff even led a tour into the tunnels of Coors Field. Never mind the humidor had been changing baseball at the much-maligned ballpark since 2002.

So, like I said, I don't pay too much attention when the national spotlight shines on the Rockies.

But I make an exception when it's ESPN baseball writer Buster Olney. The guy lives, breathes, talks and writes baseball. He's connected and he knows his stuff. He talks to Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd on a regular basis.

Still, Olney's pick, and picks by many others, make it clear the Rockies have emerged from the shadows to become a chic choice.

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The question now is whether the Rockies can match not only the media expectations, but their own.

We'll start getting answers soon. Opening day is just one week away.

Trivia time

What current major-league franchise has endured the longest drought since last making the playoffs? (Answer below)

Quotable

"This is a playoff game for us. We gotta get up for this game, regardless if it's back-to-back or a tough road trip. We gotta get it." — Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony talking about tonight's game in Dallas after the Nuggets lost Sunday in Orlando.

Blog spot

Initially, The Post's Tom Kensler didn't think the idea of the Colorado Buffs wrapping spring football practice around spring break was a very good idea. He's since changed his mind, he writes in his latest blog.

Fan Mail

If you want to ask CU coach Dan Hawkins about the Buffs football program, now is your chance. Hawkins has agreed to be the next subject in The Post's "Fan Mail" feature. If you have a question for him, go to fanmail@denverpost.com and fire away. His responses can be found at DenverPost.com/sports beginning Friday and in Saturday morning's edition of The Denver Post.

In case you missed it

The messy divorce between Frank and Jamie McCourt is the big news in Los Angeles. And apparently, $1 million a month doesn't go as far as it used to.

Beginning today, the duo begins arguing in court over millions of dollars. They are the first courtroom shots in a battle over the future control of the Dodgers.

The question for the court today is how much money, if any, Frank McCourt should pay to support his estranged wife pending trial.

Jamie McCourt has asked for $1 million per month to maintain her marital lifestyle and $9 million so her attorneys can prepare for trial; Frank McCourt says she can support herself without any contribution from him. The court has 90 days to rule.

While the Dodgers players say the chaos at the top hasn't funneled down to them, the Dodgers' image is getting drilled.

"As you head into April, every owner hopes the focus will be on the field, and on the competitiveness of the team," David Carter, executive director of the USC Sports Business Institute told the Los Angeles Times. "All this does for fans is to reinforce that the team they have been looking forward to following remains in turmoil."

Trivia answer

The Washington Nationals have gone 28 seasons without tasting the playoffs. The last time the franchise made it was 1981 as the Montreal Expos. That team advanced to the NLCS. The Kansas City Royals have the longest drought in the American League, having not made it to the postseason since 1985.

Not all kids who play baseball are uniformed with fancy script across their chests, traveling to $1,000 instructional camps and drilled how to properly hit the cut-off man. Some kids just play to play.